Radical Reformers C1790-1819 Flashcards
When was the outbreak of the French Revolution?
1789
What was the effect of the French Revolution on the radical movement?
Revolutionary ideas spread rapidly through Europe.
‘Liberte, egalite & fraternite’
Spiked interest in reform-parliamentary reform
Inspired radical change
Proved political reform was possible
Authorities feared GB revolution
What was the London Corresponding Society (LCS) and when was it formed and who by?
1792-93
Founded by Thomas Hardy
(Influenced by SCI and John Cartwright)
Group promoting universal suffrage and annual parliaments
Supported by skilled craftsmen
Available to all classes-low subscription fee
What methods did the LCS use?
Pamphlets promoting LCS views educating members politically
Peaceful methods
Petitions rather than gatherings
What happened to the LCS?
Gov spies infiltrated worried about militancy-although none (gov feared revolution after French)
LCS leaders put on trial
Faced backlash from conservative groups and other radical organisations-disloyal to king and country
Gov introduced Association movement to promotes patriotic propaganda and action against reformers
When was spa fields and who was involved?
Nov 1816
Henry hunt radical leader and speaker
What happened in spa fields?
Hunt spoke at spa fields e. London
Crowd of 10,000 largest gathering
Petition to prince reagent for reform
Moral force (suggested physical if reforms not met)
Second meeting-Dec
More direct action-looting
Constables dispersed and arrested rioters
Gov spies informed gov on actions of reformers
At this point what was clear about the gov and the radical movement?
Gov determined to destroy radical activity-Napoleonic war decreased activity in early 1800s
Extreme radical groups divided on aims and methods
Moderate reform groups of MC saw increased support
At spa fields divisions of peaceful and direct action made unification difficult
When was the Pentridge rising who was involved?
1817
Oliver (gov spy)
What was the plan for pentridge?
300 men went to Nottingham to seize the city
Plans for insurrection
What happened in the pentridge uprising?
Rising intercepted by authorities-notified by Oliver spy
80 arrested
14 killed
When was Peterloo and who was involved?
1819
Hunt spoke
Crowd of 80,000
What were the crowd campaigning for in peterloo?
Mass meetings and demands for p reform
Universal suffrage and annual parliaments
How did the gov react to peterloo?
Authorities called yeomanry to arrest Hunt
Stones thrown at troops responded by trampling crowd
11 dead
500+ injured women and children included
What was the impact of peterloo?
Provoked widespread national revulsion to gov
Led to several rioting outbreaks
Rise in political unions
What was the gov response to radicals after 1819?
- voluntary yeomanry and local magistrates to maintain order in towns and cities
- larger spy networks infiltrate radical organisations-enables preemptive action eg pentridge
- patriotic and national movements with propaganda-make radical protests hard to achieve
- six acts
What was the extent of radical success by 1819?
- national debate of reform form French rev continued by radicals
- use of pamphlets books and press increased education literacy and influence
- more access to newspapers, cheaper and more in circulation 14 mil by 1785
- early reform groups LCS (skilled wc) and SCI (MC support)little wc or agricultural attraction
- reform programmes developed 1812-Hamden clubs in north,post war more northern radicals
What were the failures of radicalism by 1819?
No clear leadership
- Cobbett-moral
- Hunt
Split in force-moral v physical
Times of Economic stability-reduced radicalism
Some wanted p reform others wanted revolution
What was the gov response to protests?
Trial of LCS leaders 1792
- gov arrested and LCS and SCI members at meeting on Edinburgh
- regrouped 1794 and put on trial for treason
- no convictions
-failure of treason trials caused amendment of treason law-strengthen power against radicalism
Suspension of Habeas Corpus 1793-prompted by Pitt
What was the national situation in 1795?
1795 war-unrest increased tax
Increased unemployment in industrial towns dislocated trade due to war
Poor harvests and increased food prices
What was the treason act and when was it passed?
1795
Made it an offence to kill harm or intimidate HoC HoL
-anyone calling for p reform was charged with treason
What was the seditious meetings act and when was it passed?
1795
Restricted size of public meetings to 50 people unless approved by gov in advance
What were the effects of the treason and seditious meetings acts?
Reduced radical activity
Increased patriotism due to war-also decreased radicalism
Radicals either silenced or abroad
What were the gagging acts and when were they passed?
Who were they passed by?
Liverpool’s gov
Habeas corpus suspended 1793
Treason act 1795 (made permanent)
Seditious meetings act 1795-expanded gov could disperse any public meeting
What were the six acts in response to?
Peterloo massacre
1819
What were the six acts?
1-unlawful drilling act 2-seizure of arms act 3-misdemeanours act 4-seditious meetings prevention 5-criminal libel act 6-news and stamp duty act
What were the impacts of the six acts 1819?
Had desired effect of reduced radicalism
Acts were condemned for repressive policies
Gobs way to maintain order with few weapons at disposal
Who formed the Hampden club and when?
1812
John cartwright
Who was the Hampden club aimed at?
High annual subscription 2 Guineas-limited membership to MC and aristocrats
What did the Hampden clubs do?
Toured industrial towns in north and midlands saw widespread poverty and poor living conditions in cotton towns due to cotton famine-Cartwright believed only p reform would fix this
Caused membership to H clubs to expand to all only 1p subscription
Filled gap of LCS disbanded in 1794 outlawed 1799
Agreed on universal suffrage
Authorities made arrests not convinced of peaceful intentions-after acts H clubs not act effectively after 1817
What was Cobbett famous for?
After not elected in 1806 election cobbett saw corruption and promoted p reform
1809 published articles against some gov actions
1816 reached wider audience
- political register 1s so unattainable to wc
- so released single sheet costing 2p
- 1st edition by end of 1817 200,000 copies printed and circulated
What was the role of hunt?
1816 forefront of radical public meetings
Great orator
-many speeches opposing property taxes and corn laws 1815
1819 peterloo-meant to be peaceful and tightly organised
-urged meeting to refuse pay taxes and secure p reform by numerical force
-charged with seditious conspiracy and jailed for two years 1820
What credit should be given to radical leaders?
Cobbett
-articulate effectively wc grievances and aspirations through print
Hunt
- champion of people and their interests
- nationally popular
- advocacy for uni suffrage inspired wc-vital factor in sustaining radicalism in 1st half of c19th
